FARCE OF NATURE HD

FARCE OF NATURE is a Soundpainted fairy tale about climate change. Soundpainting is the live-composing, sign-language for musicians, actors, dancers, and visual artists. Presently, the language comprises more than 1200 gestures that are signed by the Soundpainter (composer) to indicate the type of material desired of the improvising performers. The Soundpainting language was created by Walter Thompson in Woodstock, New York in 1974. It has evolved into an interdisciplinary compositional language now practiced in 33 countries. Students from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School (N.Y.C.) perform alongside of Strike Anywhere’s professional ensemble of jazz musicians, dancers and actors and the performance features professional dancers from DANCE June Lewis and Company. The cast is improvising on an original fairy tale written by the students. The project is a collaboration between Roundabout Theatre Company’s Education Department, the Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School. The show is the culmination of a three-month, school-wide residency by the 2 theatres in the school. FARCE OF NATURE was inspired by Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.” Students examined fairy tale structure, researched climate change, learned Soundpainting and attended Roundabout’s production of “Into the Woods.” An art installation in the lobby highlighted the students’ reactions to their research. A town-hall style discussion with environmental experts followed the performance. Shot May 1, 2015 at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School (N.Y., N.Y.) Music by Rob Henke "White Paws" Direction – Leese Walker and Elisa De Gregorio Cast King Calisco - Reality Wilson Princess Lysaya - Leanette Franco Rosalina - Shannon Risbrook Narrator 1 - Francesca Stanley Narrator 2 - Nanette Vasquez Narrator 3 - Cynthia Kelsay Almeida Macaw - Kya Fields Farmer - Stephanie Jones Page - Ernesto Gonzalez Mack - Joshua Bonilla Security - Nolan Southwell Protestor - Marc Diaz Orangutan - Brianna Baldeon Orangutan offspring - Ashley Tineo Tiger - Xavier Romero Lumberjack - Patricia Soundpainting Performers - Dalia Al-Taha, Juliet Romero Casado, Mahmoud Fadika, Johnny Feliz, Elvis Gutierrez, Lauren Medina, Marrie Onnevagi, Justyn Rosa, and Saned Ziad. Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble Leese Walker – Artistic Director/Soundpainter Nolan Kennedy – Actor Donna Bouthillier – Dancer Rob Henke – Trumpet Rolf Sturm – Guitar Hollis Headrick – Featured Guest Drummer Amanda Hinkle - Education Coordinator/Stage Manager DANCE June Lewis and Company “A Clearing” - Choreography by Elisa De Gregorio Music - Bjork Costumes Painted by Schery Sullivan Dancers - Claudio Assante, Kim Drach-Neff, Schery Sullivan, Lisa Wong Production Stage Manager/Education Coordinator - Amanda Hinkle Lighting Design - Joe Doran- Light Board Operator – Yahel Hadar Sound Operator - Justin Hernandez Shadow Puppeteer - Keana Valentin Technical Assistant - Oscar Reyes Techn